Engine frame



June 21, 1932. c. H. STEVENS I I 1,864,004

ENGINE FRAME Filed Feb. 12. 1931 2 sheets-sum 1 InuenZor GEJ'ZL wnJ 2Sheets-Sheet 2 4 9d n m A -w F l l l l nu 0 m L, W r A June 21, 1932..c. H. STEVENS ENGINE FRAME Filed Feb. 12, 1931 0. E 5 22210726 3;) WZQM'm" Patented June 21, 1932 UNITED STATES CLEMENT HENRY s'rEvENs, or

ENGINE.

Application filed February 12, 1931, Serial No.

This invention relates to the construction of the framesincludingcolumns and bedplates-of vertical Diesel engines, and any likereciprocating engines, and it has for its [F object the provision of alight steel frame of usual form of cast bedplate and secured at theirupper ends to an entablature, common to allthe cylinders, on which thelatter are supported. j

The weakness of this arrangement consists in the fact that theentablature rests upon the top edges of the vertical plates and also inthe fact that the bottom edges of the vertical plates are bolted to acast bedplate, of the usual forn1,thus perpetuating the horizontalbolted oints in the framing.

The bolts securing these joints are subject to severe tensional stressesat every explosion which takes place in the cylinders.

The present invention entirely eliminates these bolted joints.

According to thepresent invention a frame for reciprocating engines ofthe vertical type is constructed of vertical sheet metal plates betweenthe cylinders these plates having gaps in their upper ends through whichhori zontal plates are passed which form the seatings for the cylinders,the vertical plates be ing secured together by a wrapperplate or platesextending the whole length of both sides of the engine and from the baseto the top and across the bottom of the base below the crank shaft.

A number of alternative constructions, according to the invention, areillustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein Figs. 1 and 2 aresectional front and side elevations respectively of one form ofconstruction; Figs. 3 and 4 illustrate modified constructions fordifferent sizes of engine; while Fig. 5 shows PATENT OFFE- FARNHAMCOMMON, ENGLAND FRAME 515,343, and in Great Britain April 25, 1930.

from above the cylinder head joints. to the lower edge of the base orengine seating. The

external contour of the plate follows generally the customary profile ofthe end view of a vertical engine.

Within the platel are formed or out two gaps 2 and 3, the upper 2 ofwhich has fitted into ittwo steel plates 4 and 5, running horizontallythe whole length of the engine; of these the upper plate forms theseating 6 for the cylinder heads and cylinders, whilst the lower plate 5is formed to provide the housing 7 for the lower ends of the cylinders,the position of the cylinders and valves be? ing shownin chain lines inFig. 1. This arrangement leaves a portion 18 of the vertical frame plate1 above the plate 4, to act as a girder which receives the upward thrustdue to the explosions in the cylinders. Between the two horizontalplates 4 and 5 vertical plates 8 (Fig. 4) are fitted on each side of thecylinders, in order to form the outer casing of the water jackets.

The gap 3 in the lower part of each frame plate is preferably in theform of a circle as shown in Fig. 2, although it may be of any othershape such as that shown in Fig. 4, the

radius of its lower edge 9 being struck off from the centre line of thecrank shaft and the gap being of such diameter or dimensions that thecrank shaft may be passed into position, from either end of the engine,through the gaps 3 in the frame plates 1. The lower edge 9 of each lowergap in the frame plate is provided with a seating 10 upon which the maincrank shaft bearing 11 rests and is bolted thereto as indicated, thelower part of the frame plate being provided if necessary withstrengthening webs 12 for this purpose.

' The lower part 19 of each frame plate forms a girder upon which isreceived the downward thrust of the explosions in the cylinders.

The construction is thus arranged so that the crank shaft with the mainbearings mounted thereon may be passed through the openings in the lowerparts of the frame plates into its position, thus allowing the crankshaft with its hearings to be mounted or dismounted without disturbingany other part of the engine.

In order to connect up the various frame plates one with another, anouter or wrapper plate 13 is fitted extending the whole length of theengine, on both sides, and under the base, and from the base to the top.This wrapper plate may be in one or more pieces and may have thenecessary hand holes and inspection door holes 14 cut therein, these.

stead of having two gaps 2 and 3 in the frame plate .1, they are mergedinto one large gap 16 and only one horizontal plate 4 is used. But inthis case also, the frame plate 1 forms a continuous sling with upperand lower girders 18 and 19, which receive the upward and downwardthrusts, due to the explosions in the cylinders. Additional plates orwebs 17 extending between the frame plates 1 are provided to increasethe rigidity of the frame plate 1 in this case, to counteract the effectof the large gap 16. Additional plates 21, 22, are provided between thewrapper plate 13 and webs 17 and between the two webs 17, respectivelyto increase the rigidity of the construction.

In the construction shown in Fig. 4, which is intended for an engine inwhich the pistons are provided'with piston rods, crossheads and guideshoes, additional plates 20 forming the crosshead guides or formingseatings "for the guides are arranged between the frame plates.

The number of frame plates depends upon the number of cylinders in theengine, but

there would be normally one frame plate between each cylinder, and oneat each outer end of the engine, but where large units are concernedeach frame plate is preferably formed of two or more subsidiary steelplates 1 1 as shown in Fig. 5. These subsidiary plates may be closetogether at one part .and, splayed out at another part as shown, inorder to accommodate any special feature of design In any case eachframe plate section, whether of single or multiple plates, is built as aunit in one piece forming a continuous tie surrounding the cylinderheads and crank shaft bearings down to the engine seating.

The whole of each structure above described is connected together bywelding, riveting, bolting, or by any other suitable means, whilststiffeners, ribs, seatings and other details of design can be added asre quired.

By the use of a steel structure as above described, a great reduction inthe weight of the framework of an engine combined with strength can beachieved, whilst all the usual horizontal bolted connections areavoided.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patentis 1. A frame for a reciprocating engine of the vertical type,comprising vertical sheet metal plates having openings through which arepassed horizontal plates which form the seatings for, the cylinders, theupper and lower portions of the vertical sheet metal plates forminggirders which take the upward and downward thrusts due to the explosionsin the cylinders and the vertical plates being secured together by awrapper plate member extending the. whole length of both sides of theengine and from the baseto the top and across the bottom.

. 2. A frame for'reciprocating engines-of the vertical type, comprisingverticalsheet metal plates extending beyond the cylinder head joints andbelow the crank shaft bearings to constitute girders which receive theforces due to the explosions in the cylinders, openings in each of saidplates, horizontal plates forming seatings for the cylinders located inone of said openings, a seating in another of said openings in eachplate for receiving the crank shaft bearings, said latter opening beingof such a size that the crank shaft with its bearings may be passedlongitudinally therethrough, and a wrapper plate member extending thewhole length of theengine frame and securing said vertical platestogether.

.3- A frame for reciprocating engines of the vertical type, comprisingvertical sheet metal plates extending beyond the cylinder head jointsand below the crank shaft bearings to constitute girders which receivethe forces due to the explosions in the cylinders, openings in saidvertical plates, horizontal plates forming seatings for the cylinderslocated at one end of said. openings, seatings at the other ends of saidopenings for receiving the crankshaft bearings, the said openings beingof such a size that the crank shaft with its bearings may be passedlongitudinally therethrough, and a wrapper plate member extending thewhole length of the engine frame and securing said vertical platestogether.

4A frame for reciprocating engines of the vertical type comprising aplurality of vertical plates between the cylinders, said plates beingspaced from one another but secured together and extending beyond thecylinder head joints and below the crank shaft bearings to constitutegirders which receive the forces due to the explosions in the cylinders,openings in said vertical plates for receiving cylinder seating plates,other openings in said vertical plates provided with seatings for thecrank shaft bearings and of such a size that the crankshaft and itsbearings may be passed longitudinally therethrough, and a Wrapper latemember extending the whole length 0 the engine frame and from the baseto the top, the whole of. said structure being Welded together.

CLEMENT HENRY STEVENS.

